A few days ago, along with more than half the population, I watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on television. I did so with a mixture of deep sorrow at her death, of gratitude that so many good people had felt drawn to wait for hours or even days to
Continue readingThe dishonest steward is one of the stand out characters in the Gospels. He may be an invented character, to illustrate a point, but surely we can all recognise something of him in people that we have met in our own lives and, if we are truly honest, perhaps in
Continue readingThe Cross, in the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, is holy and the source of our redemption. And for George Bennard, on this emblem of the Lord’s suffering and shame – the ‘Old Rugged Cross’, was the price paid for our salvation. This is what we re-call on the
Continue reading‘Among us the terrible words of the prophets of Israel remain true. Among us there are those who sell the just for money and the poor for a pair of sandals [Amos 8:6] those who hoard violence and spoil in their palaces [Amos 3:10]; those who crush the poor [Amos
Continue readingIt was a meeting of minds. Our friends Jon and Tracey had spent many years taking walking holidays all over the world. Sarah and I mentioned to them the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Had they heard of it and would they consider walking it with a couple of novices.
Continue readingNo distractions. Nothing majestic to look at physically. No grand Basilica. No high mountains like the Pyrenees. Not much in the near vicinity either. A small town without any grand buildings, symmetrical gardens or tree-lined avenues. With a church that looks like any other Parish church, except for a large
Continue reading‘Brothers and sisters, all of us need the healing that comes from Jesus, the physician of souls and bodies. Lord, as the people on the shores of the Sea of Galilee were not afraid to cry out to you with their needs, so we come to you, Lord, this evening,
Continue readingThe Loving reverence towards God is a gift of the Holy Spirit, also known as the fear of the Lord. This gift of the holy fear of God fills us with loving obedience and surrender to God. Blessed Josemaria Esciva sees it as a holy fear that makes us acknowledge
Continue readingI recently completed the final seven stages – 117.3 km – of the Camino Francés. It had been ten years since I had walked this stretch and though I’ve hiked numerous other Camino sections in between, the Pandemic prevented travel and depleted confidence in both ability and stamina. However, in
Continue readingWednesday was the feast day of St John Fisher and St Thomas More. At one of the Masses I recounted how a couple of decades ago Pope St John Paul II declared Thomas More to be the patron saint of politicians. At that time I was chaplain to the Mayor
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